Removable weight for practicing with athletic implements

ABSTRACT

A practice device or assistor comprising a weight for quick attachment to and detachment from an athletic implement for practicing with the weight in place and playing the game with the same implement with the weight removed the weight comprises a box or cube-shaped member constructed from two similar (in reverse) halves hingedly connected together on one side edge and being provided with a latch member on the opposite side edge, each half being provided with similar undercut recesses for detachably receiving additional weights. Placed between the additional weights and an implement to be weighted are elastometric bars or strips to prevent sliding of the weights along the implement during use and to prevent marring of the implement when the latch is closed for holding the weight on the implement.

Unite States Patent [191 McNamara, Jr. et al.

REMOVABLE WEIGHT FOR PRACTICING WITH ATHLETIC IMPLEMENTS Inventors: JohnJ. McNamara, Jr., 2 Couch St, South Norwalk, Conn. 06854; William Baum,47 School St., Northboro, Mass. 01532 Filed: May 14, 1973 Appl. No.:360,130

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Pinkerton 273/72 R X McGowan272/57 D Rosenbaum 272/57 D Pietronuto et a1. 273/72 R X Hamilton 273/72R X [111 3,834,697 [451 Sept. 10, 1974 Primary Examiner-Richard C.Pinkham Assistant Examiner--Theatrice Brown Attorney, Agent, orFirmChar1es R. Fay

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT A practice device or assistor comprising a weight forquick attachment to and detachment from an athletic implement forpracticing with the weight in place and playing the game with the sameimplement with the weight removed the weight comprises a box orcubeshaped member constructed from two similar (in reverse) halveshingedly connected together on one side edge and being provided with alatch member on the opposite side edge, each half being provided withsimilar undercut recesses for detachably receiving additional weights.Placed between the additional weights and an implement to be weightedare elastometric bars or strips to prevent sliding of the weights alongthe implement during use and to prevent marring of the implement whenthe latch is closed for holding the weight on the implement.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB SEP] 0W4 FIG?) REMOVABLE WEIGHT FORIRACTICING WITII ATHLETIC IMPLEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It iswell known in many sports to add weights at strategic locations as forinstance on a baseball bat, hockey stick, the handle of a tennis racket,lacrosse sticks, etc., in order to exercise the muscles to a greaterdegree while practicing so that the athlete has an improved arm or wristaction while actually playing. However, many such devices are merelyapplied to practice implements and are not easily detachable therefromso that they can be taken off at a moments notice for actual playing ofthe respective game. In addition in most instances prior art devices donot provide for the application of various weights to accommodatedifferent ages and sizes of athletes; the weights should not be alien tothe age of the player.

In the past there have been no provisions for internally varying theweight of a device or assistor. This device provides for thisvariability. The installation of the various weights shall be by themanufacturer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The practice assistor includes a box-likemember made in two halves pivoted together along corresponding edges andhaving a separable latch at the opposite edges thereof for quick andeasy application about the shaft or shank of an athletic implement suchas a hockey stick, tennis or lacrosse racket, golf club, baseball bat,polo stick, and the like.

Each pivoted one-half portion of the aforesaid member is supplied with aweight. Weights of different sizes can be made by the manufacturer tofit recesses provided therefor in the half portions of the said device;or on the other hand non-weighted shims may be utilized instead ofweights for instance, for the least heavy model in the line.

The weights are provided with means to hold them in place on one sidethereof and on the other side facing the athletic implement they areprovided with resilient deformable elastomeric members or other meanswhich are provided to grasp the shank or shaft of the athletic implementtightly so as to prevent it from shifting on the shank or shaft to anydegree during vigorous practice or exercise. A quick action latch holdsthe halves of the assistor to the shank of the implement and this isactuated instantaneously without the need for any tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe novel weight applied to an athletic implement, in this case a hockeystick;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the take-apart member;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation showing the weights and pads at the insideof one of the halves of the box-like member; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section on line 44 of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION The practice device or assistor ofthe present invention comprises a box-like member consisting of two halfportions 110 and 12, one of which is provided with extensions 14 at oneside edge thereof to extend into corresponding recesses 16 in the otherhalf portion. A hinge pin or pintle 18 passes through both members 14and portions of the member 12 hinging the parts together.

At the opposite side edge of the device there is provided a well knowncommercial separable latch which is generally indicated at 20. Whilethis firmly connects the parts together during its application to theathletic implement. it is instantaneously openable and completelydetachable therefrom, the assistor being lifted directly from theathletic implement 22 without the necessity of sliding it along thelatter in order to remove it.

Each one half portion of the assistor l0 and I2 is similar but reversedto provide complementary longitudinal parts having similar recessesgenerally indicated as for instance 24 and 26 with undercuts 28 and 30.The undercuts 28 and 30 receive the actual weights 32, 32 which may beheld in position by any desired means such as for instance fasteners 34,34 which may be screw threaded or the like.

The weights 32 may just fill the undercut portions of the recesses. Eachof the weights 32, 32 is provided with a pair of elastomeric bars,strips, or other means 36, 36 extending along the length thereof, seeFIG. 3. These strips are arranged for the particular implement involvedso as to rightly grasp the same when in the latched position shown inFIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 so that the weight assistor cannot slide along theimplement 22 as would otherwise be the tendency when the imple ment isused in fast practice of the particular sport involved. When the deviceis in position on the athletic implement as in FIGS. l and 4 theimplement itself compresses the gripping means 36 when the latch 20 isin closed position.

It will be seen that it is very easy to snap open latch 20 and detachthe weight practice assistor directly from the athletic implement.Usually in the case of a hockey stick, e.g., the latch 20 will be placeddownwardly and the hinge portion upwards as in FIG. 1 in order toprevent as much as possible any injury to the latch.

In various sports the present practicing assistor will develop powerfulwrist ability, and in hockey will train the player to keep the stick onthe ice and not elevated. In general, implement handling of any kind isgreatly improved by practicing with the added weight and it assists inone-handed use of the implement. In general, the use of this deviceimproves ability and dexterity and improves reflexes through a taxingisometric process.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide adevice of this nature which is used at all times except in actualplaying of the official game. The present device can be quickly appliedand as quickly released and taken off so that practice may continueright up to the moment the official game begins.

We claim:

I. The combination with an athletic implement having a shank, of adetachable weight. device, said weight device comprising a plurality ofinterconnected relatively movable parts adapted to encompass the shank,and including a separable latch means holding the parts together aboutthe shank,

elastomeric means on parts of said weight device closely gripping thesides of the shank without shifting when the latch holds the device tothe shank,

grip the shank.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric gripping means aremounted on said weights, said elastomeric means facing each other.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said recesses being adaptedtoreceive weights of different capacity.

1. The combination with an athletic implement having a shank, of adetachable weight device, said weight device comprising a plurality ofinterconnected relatively movable parts adapted to encompass the shank,and including a separable latch means holding the parts together aboutthe shank, elastomeric means on parts of said weight device closelygripping the sides of the shank without shifting when the latch holdsthe device to the shank, each part of said device including a recess anda removable and replaceable weight in each recess, the elastomericgripping means being located between the weights and the shank.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein the recesses are undercut and the weightsare lOcated at least in part in the undercuts, the elastomeric grippingmeans extending through the recesses past the undercut areas to grip theshank.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric grippingmeans are mounted on said weights, said elastomeric means facing eachother.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said recesses being adaptedto receive weights of different capacity.